Snap fastener

ABSTRACT

A substantially rigid shaft is obtusely angled adjacent to an enlargement at its distal end. The proximal end of the shaft and a receptacle, forming and defining an aperture slightly smaller than the enlargement, are flexibly affixed to differing portions of an encircling article that become releasably joined when the enlargement is forcibly passed through the aperture, Highly resistive to accidental opening, purposeful pressure applied to the enlargement by a single finger or thumb creates a leveraged force that assists the pressure in accomplishing intentional disengagement. Optional attributes include a magnetic pre-positioning for engagement and disengagement and use of gemstones as distal enlargements.

NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX.”

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to releasable fasteners, particularly to snapfasteners which consist of an insert part that must be forcibly insertedinto a receptacle part, typically having an aperture slightly smallerthan the insert part. These two parts are attached to respectiveportions of an article which will be joined or united by the fastenerwhen a completed insertion closes the fastener. The fastener is alsomade so that the insert part must be forcibly removed from thereceptacle to release and separate them, in order to provide aresistance to premature disengagement.

2. Background Information

Snap-fasteners have been successfully accepted for a wide variety ofusages and without major modification for a considerable period of time.Snap fasteners generally offer the inherent convenience of eliminating aneed for use of the fingernails in opening, and requiring only one handfor closure. However, two hands must often be used to open them unlessthe fasteners are so easily disengaged that a secure closure iscompromised.

Despite the successes, many have felt the need to improve the appearanceand the already impressive level of snap fastener convenience as well asto make the fasteners more secure against premature disengagement. Suchimprovements in the matter of appearance and security have beenaccomplished without compromising convenience. See applicant's “JewelryClasp” U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,558 (Jul. 7, 1997).

Another example is “Connector for a Jewelry Flexible Member”, Jacobson,U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,067 B2, (Oct. 21, 2003) which shows insert partswhich are ball shaped, cylindrical and disc shaped together withreceptacles which are hemispherical, semi-cylindrical and disc shaped.“The preferred embodiments of the invention all have a connector withonly two parts, namely a receiver and an insert, which are connected toopposite ends of a flexible member.” (Column 2, lines 13-16).

“To disconnect the parts, since tension on the flexible member endscannot pull the insert through the opening, the insert must be pulledoutward by hand in a direction perpendicular to the orientation ofconnected flexible members under tension.” (Column 2, lines 33-37”. Theinvention outlines this method of disengagement for all embodiments, butit is also claimed that the disc shaped connector 90 in FIG. 3 can bedisconnected with one hand. “To disconnect connector 90, receiver 94 isfirst reoriented such that opening 105 faces inward, then receiver 94 ispulled away from insert 92 against the restraint of flexible member end96”. (Column 6, lines 31-34).

In addition to other obvious differences, the members “under tensionthat connect the connector” are flexible, as described and claimed byJacobson, precluding development of a leveraged force of disengagement,which is an important feature of applicant's invention which requires asubstantially rigid shaft connection for the insert part. In addition tobeing flexible, Jacobson connecting members are not angled, obtusely orotherwise.

The first two of three earlier patents are both entitled “Fastening forGloves”, Richardson, U.S. Pat. No. 276,714 (May 1, 1883) and U.S. Pat.No. 300,509 (Jun. 17, 1884) The first patent is primarily concerned withmanufacture of the Richardson fastener, the second with its operation.Both show a ball member and a socket that is adapted to be shut over theball to enclose the upper and side surfaces of the ball member in orderto secure it. There is a mention of a curved shank (shaft) in the secondpatent but this is shown in claim 6 to be a reference to itscross-section. There are no angled shanks (shafts) shown or described.There is a mention of a lever action in removing the ball from thesocket in U.S. Pat. No. 300,509 (Column 2 lines 61 through 71). Howeverthis involves the use of a special projection from the ball which hasbeen provided specifically for use as a fulcrum and the fastener doesnot create a leveraged force of disengagement without the addition ofthis special projection.

The third patent is “Snap for Jewelry”, Ford, U.S. Pat. No. 1,406,179(Feb. 14, 1922) showing an insert stud rising from a flat, circularpanel that extends slightly beyond the stud circumference. This is theinsert side of the fastener which is snapped into a circular opening ina slotted panel that is the receptacle. The insert piece is directlyconnected to the article to be fastened by the snap, without a shaft,such as used in the applicant's fastener. The Ford snap is “an improvedsnap for jewelry such as is used on bracelets and other strands, but isparticularly adapted for use on necklaces” (Column 1, lines 10-12). Thedrawing shows the fastener insert part directly connected to a flexiblechain.

Ford makes no provision for one-hand, or one finger operation. “When theparts are to be separated, one part is held in one hand and the other inthe other hand” (Column 2 lines 69-71). The paragraph in column 2, lines69-85 describes the process for separation of the parts of the snapwhich includes a leveraged disconnection of the two pieces. However,generation of leveraged force calls for manually twisting the parts outof alignment and tilting them to separate the snap parts, not simplyusing a single finger, as in the applicant's fastener. Column 2, lines90-95 calls for providing the stud with a jewel for ornamentation.Replacing the stud or insert with a jewel as a working part of the snapinsert is not called for or suggested as it is in the applicant'sspecification.

It is apparent that there continues to be enough room for improvement toinvite invention and to expand practical usages even further bycombining a greater ease of operation with an attractively unobtrusiveappearance, a high level of security and a reasonable manufacturingcost.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Attributes of applicant's invention, include an enlargement at thedistal end of an obtusely angled, substantially rigid shaft, which isflexibly affixed to one part of a an article to be joined by thefastener to another part of the article. To close or engage the parts ofthe fastener and thus join or unite the parts of the article, theenlargement is held, between thumb and finger, against the opening oraperture in a receptacle part of the fastener, which is flexibly affixedto the another part of the article. The enlargement and receptacle arethen rotated slightly toward the body, while pulling against the part towhich the receptacle is affixed. This action provides a particularadvantage in snapping the enlargement through the receptacle, to engagethe fastener and join the article parts.

Articles of clothing, both under and outer wear, belts, articles ofjewelry, even shoes may be considered body encircling articles, althoughthe body need not be animate as when the fastener is used to securehold-down straps. In a proper installation of the applicant's invention,the enlargement is made to pass through the receptacle aperture in thedirection of the body to effect closure. In general the applicant'sfastener is made to have a relatively high resistance to passage of theenlargement through the aperture of the receptacle. This and the hookedeffect of shaft angle and bead contour makes it especially secureagainst accidental opening. Although pulling forces from the article aremade to have no effect, pressure applied to the enlargement in a closedfastener, by a single finger or a thumb, that pulls the fastener awayfrom the joined parts of the article, will cause the shaft andreceptacle to develop a leveraged force that greatly assists thispressure on the enlargement and forces it back through the receptacleopening or aperture to conveniently disengage the fastener. These modesof fastener engagement and disengagement are particularly valuable whendirect physical access and visual assistance are both limited, as when abrassiere design calls for closure and adjustment at the wearer's backand the fastener may need to be manipulated through a layer or two offabric. The mode of disengagement makes a relatively great resistance todisengagement more manageable.

The easy to open, one finger feature of the fastener invention makes itpractical in miniature sizes and its minimal use of materials not onlytends to give it a lean and attractively less obtrusive appearance, butallows it to be economically made from noble as well as base metals,even in larger sizes. Hard precious or semi-precious stones may also bemade to serve as both decorative and functioning distal enlargements.Another feature in the applicant's invention is a magneticpre-positioning of fastener parts for engagement or disengagement. Suchmagnetic positioning does not accomplish the fastening as in a typicalmagnetic snap fastener, but makes the parts self-locating and holds themin a ready position for fastening. When the fastener is opened themagnetic feature can also serve to temporarily secure the ends of abracelet or necklace to prevent them from dropping to the floor, afterdisengagement.

Either the distal shaft enlargement, receptacle or even both could bemade of a permanent magnet material, but it has been found that the mostconvenient and economical construction uses a permanently magneticmaterial as the distal enlargement and a receptacle made of a materialhaving ferro-magnetic properties. The permanently magnetic, black glassmarketed in bead form as “Magnetic Hematite” is both durably hard andstrongly magnetic and serves well as the distal enlargement when used incombination with a receptacle made from an iron alloy wire. Magneticbeads are also available in colors as well as black.

If the receptacle is to be made of a non-magnetic material such asbrass, gold or silver, and the magnetic advantage is desired, it can begiven magnetic qualities by adding a ferro-magnetic material in the formof a core or partial covering. In the wire-form designs, this canconveniently be accomplished by closely winding a coil of iron aroundthe part that forms the aperture.

An object of this invention is to provide a releasable fastener thatwill accomplish the joining or uniting of article parts in a simple yetreliable manner.

An associated object is to combine simplicity and reliability with easeof operation.

Another associated object is to provide the simplicity, reliability andease of operation, in an unobtrusive manner that will not appreciablyinterrupt the esthetics of design.

An additional object is to provide a reliable fastener in which ease ofoperation is accomplished by the fastener's ability to be closed orengaged with a thumb and finger of one hand and opened or disengagedwith one finger or a thumb.

Another additional object is to provide a reliable fastener in whichease of operation is such that the fastener can be engaged anddisengaged while being manipulated through layers of fabric.

A further object is to provide a releasable fastener with a decreasedresistance to engagement and an increased resistance to disengagementwhich is overcome by assistance from a leveraged force of disengagement.

A still further object is to provide such a releasable fastener with theconvenience of magnetic pre-positioning for engagement anddisengagement.

Still another object is to provide a releasable fastener that hasminimal requirement for materials so that manufacturing expense isreduced, especially when noble metals are employed.

Yet another object is to permit the practical inclusion of stones asfunctioning parts of a releasable fastener for their inherent wearresistance as well as their ornamentation.

An associated object is to provide a releasable fastener that permits aneasy swiveling action when closed or engaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a preferred embodiment of the releasablefastener, in accordance with the invention, attached to a bracelet, withits distal enlargement of spheroid bead form, pre-positioned forengagement over the aperture defined by its wire-form receptacle;

FIG. 2 shows the fastener of FIG. 1 with the fastener in an engagedposition;

FIG. 3 depicts the same bracelet as in FIGS. 1 and 2, but with amodified form of the preferred fastener embodiment that has itsreceptacle arranged so that its proximal attachment will apply anypulling force in a direction that is substantially parallel to, or inthe same plane as the receptacle defined aperture;

FIG. 4 shows the releasable fastener of FIG. 3, after engagement;

FIG. 5 depicts a group of preferred receptacles, including those shownin FIGS. 1-4 as well as one shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 depicts, a pair of smaller fastener shafts and enlargementsaffixed to a portion of a brassiere strap;

FIG. 7 shows, the portion of the brassiere strap of FIG. 6 afterengagement with a pair of wire-form receptacles mounted on anotherportion of the brassiere strap; and

FIG. 8 depicts a group of preferred angled shafts with their distalenlargements of preferred spheroid shaping.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts the substantially rigid, angled shaft 5 of the releasablefastener, with its spheroidal distal enlargement 1, flexibly affixed byjump ring 6 to one end of bracelet 8 with relatively rigid receptacle 2flexibly affixed to the opposite end of bracelet 8 by jump ring 7 anddefining an aperture with slightly smaller dimensions than those ofdistal enlargement bead 1. The bead 1 is shown, pre-positioned forengagement, as it nests well within the aperture defined by receptacle 2since the relatively rigid properties of receptacle 2, require lessexpansion for development of a desired resistance to passage of distalenlargement bead 1.

Receptacle 2 in FIG. 1 is made with its connective eye off-set so thatany pulling force transmitted to it through connecting jump ring 7 is atan angle to the plane of the aperture defined by receptacle 2. This hasbeen found to enhance the action of angled shaft 5 in magneticpre-positioning.

Curved arrows 3 and 4 in FIG. 1 show the direction in which thepre-positioned fastener parts 1 and 2, held between a thumb and finger,are turned down toward the body as they are pulled away from therestraint of the bracelet connection through jump ring 7, to create amechanically advantaged, convenient, releasably locking engagement.

FIG. 2 shows the ends of bracelet 8, connected through jump rings 6 and7 to the angled shaft 5 and receptacle 2 respectively, now having thebracelet ends secured by the passage of bead 1, through the aperturedefined by receptacle 2, which has engaged the fastener. Again, theenlargement bead 1 is able to nest well within the aperture defined byresiliently deformable receptacle 2. Due to the relative rigidity ofreceptacle 2, a desired degree of resistance to the expanding passage ofenlargement 1, that must be overcome to effect disengagement, isachieved with relatively slight expansion.

Arrow 9 in FIG. 2 indicates the direction in which pressure can beapplied by a finger or thumb to the enlargement bead 1 to effect aconvenient disengagement. In the case of the bracelet, as well as otherarticles not otherwise secured to the body, use of a finger and thumbcan leave the user holding an end of the fastener after disengagement,shaft 5 and bead 1 or receptacle 2, which will keep the article fromfalling away.

Once engaged, pulling force applied to the releasable fastener at theflexibly affixed connection 6 of shaft 5 and 7 of receptacle 2, cancause the obtusely angled part of the shaft 5 adjacent to theenlargement 1 to ride against the edge of the receptacle and bring theenlargement into a pre-positioning for disengagement, as shown, but theangle of shaft 5 keeps pulling force from developing a leveraged urgingthat will lift enlargement 1 out of receptacle 2, and the combination ofthe obtuse angle of shaft 5 and the curve of the preferred spheroidshaping of enlargement 1, also creates a “hook” effect to keep suchpulling force from causing a disengagement. When the fastener ismagnetically equipped, the enlargement 1 tends to maintain such apre-positioning for disengagement without such pulling.

When an intentional pressure is applied to the distal end of theenlargement that faces the body, in a direction indicated by arrow 9,that pulls the fastener away from the body, it applies pulling force toreceptacle 2 at an increasingly different angle than when pulling forcecomes from the article through the fastener's proximal attachments suchas 6 and 7. Intentional pulling, directly applied to enlargement 1 atthe distal end of shaft 5, that moves the fastener away from the body,develops an angularly leveraged force that assists such intentionalpulling. The edge of receptacle 2 that contacts shaft 5 acts as afulcrum for shaft 5 and helps force the enlargement 1 back through theopening or aperture defined by receptacle 2, to disengage the fastenerand thereby permit the united or joined parts of the article toseparate. Pulling at other positions, at the points where the fastenerparts are flexibly affixed at 6 and 7 or further from the fastener, onthe article with parts to be united, applies pulling force to thefastener in directly opposing directions, does not cause the leveragedforce to be developed and does not cause such disengagement.

While the shaft 5, is described as obtusely angled adjacent to theenlargement, it should be noted that the angle need not be abruptlyformed and can be developed in a curve, as shown.

If the shaft is left straight, and not obtusely angled as shown by shaft5, a leveraged force that urges disengagement is developed when pullingforce is applied by the article in typically opposing directions anddisengagement is thus made to occur prematurely.

FIG. 3 depicts the same bracelet 8, but with a preferred modification ofthe applicant's invention. The orientation of the fastener in FIG. 3 isreversed from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the angled shaft 12 is secureddirectly to the bracelet end without the use of the attachment ring or“jump” ring 7 used in FIGS. 1 and 2. This form of direct attachmentfacilitates engagement by reducing twisting that might point thespheroid enlargement 10 at the distal end of shaft 12 away from theaperture defined by receptacle 11 and require a slight degree of manualrealignment, if the distal spheroid bead 10 is not pre-positionedmagnetically, for example.

FIG. 3 shows this modification of the releasable fastener to have itsreceptacle 11 not off-set so that its proximal attachment to bracelet 8will transmit any pulling force applied by bracelet 8 in a directionthat is either on, or substantially parallel to, the plane of theaperture defined by receptacle 11. This type of receptacle isparticularly useful on chains or necklaces, since it has no polarity andallows entry of the bead 10 from either side when made accessible. FIG.3 also shows the fastener as pre-positioned for engagement with distalenlargement bead 10 over the aperture defined by receptacle 11. As inFIGS. 1 and 2, the receptacle 11 material is to be considered relativelyrigid, allowing the bead to nest well within the aperture of receptacle11 prior to a releasably locking engagement.

FIG. 4 shows the releasable fastener of FIG. 4 after releasably lockingengagement. Again, the spheroid enlargement 10 is able to nest wellwithin the aperture of receptacle 11 after completing a penetration of11 and with a minimal protrusion beyond the receptacle 11 due to therelative rigidity of the material from which receptacle 11 is made. Suchrigidity permits spheroid bead 10 to be only slightly larger than theaperture defined by receptacle 11.

In references to the sizes of distal enlargements and receptacleapertures, it should be interpreted, in this specification, to meaneffective sizes, as determined by measurement across those “working”surfaces of the enlargement and aperture that come into contact when theenlargement enters and passes through a temporarily deformed aperture.In general, even when the receptacle appears to follow the contour ofthe enlargement, there are typically only three and sometimes twocontact points therebetween. These may change somewhat with wear andwill certainly change if receptacle adjustments are made to increase ordecrease the resistance to passage of the enlargement through theaperture defined by the receptacle.

FIG. 5 depicts a group of preferred receptacles, including those shownaffixed to bracelet 8 in FIGS. 1-4 as well as one like those that willbe seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The receptacle 2, shown in two views, is the same receptacle 2 of FIGS.1 and 2, shown with jump ring 7 attached in both views.

The receptacle 11 is the same receptacle 11 of FIGS. 3 and 4 with itsjump ring 6 attached.

Receptacle 33 is similar to a type of external retaining ring whereinthe small holes that are provided for an expansion tool can be used forthread passage for attachment to apparel, for example.

The receptacle 30 has inner projections, the ends of which define theaperture. This receptacle resembles another external retaining ring ofthe push-on type and like the retaining ring it resembles, is made withdirectional bias. This receptacle presents much less resistance to theenlargement passage in one direction and a much higher resistance topassage in the opposite direction. This makes engagement for the userrelatively easy and disengagement very difficult, except when assistedby this fastener's leveraged force of disengagement. This makes thefastener especially resistant to accidental release or disengagement.Receptacle 30 has a larger external diameter relative to the wire-formtypes, but this is not objectionable when the fastener is small and 30could be substituted for the wire-form types 16, 17, 18 and 19 in FIG.7.

Receptacle 33 and 30 are both designed to be made of semi-rigid,temporarily deformable material and stamped from flat stock.

The receptacle 31 is a wire-form type shown in FIG. 7 as 16, 17, 18 and19.

The receptacle 32 has its aperture created and defined by a brieflycoiled spring wire, in a wire-form generally known in the jewelry andfishing tackle trade as a “split-ring”. As shown by receptacle 32, thecoil consists of more than one turn. One end, at the top of the image,is formed into a connective loop with the other, forming a free end atthe right side of the image.

FIG. 6 depicts a pair of spheroid distal enlargements or beadsintegrated with their angled shafts 14 and 15, affixed to one side 13 ofa brassiere connecting strap.

FIG. 7 shows the one side 13 of a brassiere connecting strap of FIG. 6,after engagement with wire-form receptacle pair 16 and 17 affixed toanother side 20 of the brassiere strap in order to secure and adjust thebrassiere. Strap sides such as 20 typically carry a series of additionalwire-form receptacles, such as 18 and 19, which can be seen to resemblethe “eyes” of hook and eye fastener combinations, commonly employed asbrassiere fasteners. These can be replaced to advantage by receptacleslike that depicted as 30 in FIG. 5.

The brassiere is an example of a clothing use in which this releasablefastener has the advantage of being capable of being manipulated throughone or more layers of fabric. The force and direction of manipulationand the fastener functioning is like that of the fasteners in FIGS. 1-4and it will be appreciated that this fastener use can be extended tobelts and other clothing articles such as dresses, shirts and jackets.Since the applicant's fastener can be operated through layers of fabric,it can be readily concealed when it is considered desirable to do so.

FIG. 8 depicts a group of preferred angled shafts with their distalenlargements of preferred spheroid bead shaping. A shaft 22 and bead 21of the type shown in FIGS. 1-4, which may be made as an integral pieceas well as an assembly, is included as well as two views of a type shownin FIG. 6 as integral shaft and bead 14 and 15 and shown here asassembled shaft 24 and bead 23.

A separate shaft 26 is shown together with its distal bead 25, which mayhave permanent magnetic properties, in unassembled form to showconstruction detail. Shaft 26 has a head 27 not unlike that of a pinhead, that is used to assure retention of the bead 25. While unnecessaryfor retention, cement may also be used to eliminate any unwantedmovement of the bead 25 on the shaft 26. If the head 27 is pre-formed onshaft 26, the bead 25 must be installed prior to the forming of theangle and connective eye of 26. If the shaft 26 is pre-shaped as toangle and eye, the head 27 can be formed after installation of bead 25,by various means such as soldering, micro-welding, or simply pinchingthe distal terminus of shaft 26 to increase its width. In any case thehead 27 should be finished in a manner that leaves little or noprotrusion that could interrupt the contour of bead 25 to an extent thatcould interfere with fastener functioning.

In the preferred embodiments, the distal enlargements of the elongated,obtusely angled shafts, have been shown as preferably spheroid althoughvariations in this shape can be made to function if their receptacleapertures can be made to accommodate them.

When the spheroid is made of metal, it may be made integral with theshaft by casting or stamping as a single piece or by welding anassembly. The spheroid enlargement can also be a drilled bead made of ahard and durable material, including metal, stones, permanent magnetmaterial or be formed in situ on the end of the shaft from glass orplastic. Although acceptable in some instances, the availability ofsuitable plastic materials is limited and they should generally berestricted to use where expected conditions are not abusive.

While it would be possible to make the receptacle aperturenon-expandable and make the enlargement from a resilient, compressiblematerial to achieve a similar snap-fastener function, the wearing ofsurfaces must be considered in the interest of reliability, especiallyafter extended use or being subjected to abusive conditions. Hard distalenlargements and resiliently deformable metallic receptacles that defineexpandable apertures offer the most durable combinations.

A receptacle that is relatively rigid and expands only slightly inpassing the enlargement, is more affected by dimensional changes due towear and requires more dimensional precision in manufacture, but may bemore desirable in appearance. If heavily made of ferro-magneticmaterial, it may provide an inherently greater mass for magneticpurposes. The wire-form types are also easily adjusted if compensationis required for the eventual effects of wear. If resistance to openingand closing, in a wire-form fastener, is appreciably reduced by wear,squeezing the receptacle sides can restore the resistance.

A receptacle that is relatively flexible and expands greatly in passingthe enlargement, is less affected by dimensional changes due to wear andrequires less precision in manufacture, but it may be too lightly madeto provide enough ferro-magnetic mass for practical use in themagnetically assisted versions of the fastener and be more suitable forthe non-magnetic type of fastener. The enlargement is therefore lessnested and is held further out of the receptacle aperture inpre-positions. When greater differences between aperture and enlargementsize are desired, a sharper, less obtuse shaft angle should be used toavoid having the shaft stick up out of an engaged fastener at anunattractive angle and to avoid being moved in and out of a partialdisengagement when intermittently pulled by the article.

There are several factors to be considered in deciding whether areceptacle construction that functions with a greater or a lesser degreeof expansion, is best suited to a particular usage.

In general, extremes are to be avoided, and most usages will benefitfrom a receptacle construction that is flexible enough to avoid undueprecision in its requirements and a substantial susceptibility to theadverse effects of dimensional change. However, it should provide theattractive unobtrusiveness of a pronounced nesting for engagement anddisengagement pre-positioning and provide enough ferro-magnetic mass tocreate an acceptable level of attraction, if magnetically equipped.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain specificembodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changesmay be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the truespirit of the invention. It is intended therefore, by the appendedclaims, to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A releasable fastener, adapted to be flexibly affixed to an articleencircling a body, in order to join and release portions of saidarticle, said fastener having a receptacle part, and a substantiallyrigid shaft part having an enlargement at its distal end that must beforcibly inserted into, and forcibly removed from, a temporarilydeformable aperture in said receptacle part in order to lockingly engageand disengage said fastener and to thereby respectively join and releasesaid portions of said article to which they are flexibly affixed; theimprovement comprising: said enlargement being exposed on the sidenearest the body, after passing through said aperture, to theapplication of a pressure, apart from said receptacle, as from a singlefinger and in a direction away from said body, in a direction that willforce the enlargement back through the aperture to disengage saidfastener; said shaft being obtusely angled, adjacent to saidenlargement, said obtusely angled shaft and said receptacle having anangle of mutual contact during the application of such pressure thatcreates a leveraged force of disengagement that assists said pressureapplied in a direction that will disengage, and immediately release saidlockingly engaged fastener when said pressure is applied to saidfastener in a direction away from said body and said fastener isrestrained by being flexibly affixed to said article; said angle ofmutual contact between said obtusely angled shaft and said receptaclepreventing the creation of any effective leveraged force ofdisengagement when pulling force is applied to said fastener only fromsaid article to which said fastener is flexibly affixed.
 2. The fasteneras defined in claim 1, in which said fastener has an unusually highresistance to release that is overcome by said leveraged force. 3.(canceled)
 4. The fastener as defined in claim 1, in which saidenlargement has properties of a permanent magnet.
 5. The fastener asdefined in claim 4, in which said receptacle has ferro-magneticproperties.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled) 10.(canceled)
 11. The fastener as defined in claim 1, in which saidaperture of said receptacle is slightly smaller in size than saidenlargement, as measured across at least one pair of opposing sides thatdefine said aperture and one pair of sides of said enlargement that makecontact with said opposing sides during insertion.
 12. The fastener asdefined in claim 1, in which said aperture provides a resistance to saidpassage of said enlargement through said aperture as determined by atleast two points of contact between said enlargement and saidreceptacle.
 13. The fastener as defined in claim 1 in which saidreceptacle is of flattened shape with inwardly directed projections, theends of which determine aperture size, and which are inclined away fromone side of said flattened shape so that the ends separate further underpressure to enlarge said aperture and provide a directional bias thatprovides less resistance to passage of said enlargement in an engagementdirection and so that the ends become closer under pressure to reducesaid aperture and provide a greater resistance to said passage in adisengagement direction.
 14. The fastener as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid receptacle is of a form that makes a substantial portion of a planeof said aperture assume an obtuse angle relative to said shaft when apulling force, applied to said receptacle by said shaft, is supplied tosaid fastener, in opposing directions, by said article to which saidfastener is flexibly affixed.
 15. A releasable fastener comprising: anarrow substantially rigid shaft having an enlargement at its distalend; said shaft being angled obtusely adjacent to said distalenlargement and having a proximal end of said shaft adapted to beflexibly affixed to one part of an article to encircle at least aportion of a body; and a receptacle being adapted to be flexibly affixedto another part of said article; said receptacle having an apertureresistive to insertion of said enlargement, said enlargement beingforced through said aperture to releasably lock said fastener; saidreceptacle being resistive to passage of said enlargement through saidaperture in a direction that would disengage said fastener; saidfastener being disengaged when pressure is applied to said fastener atsaid enlargement, as from a single finger, in a direction that urges thefastener away from a body, thereby causing said shaft and saidreceptacle to create an angularly leveraged force that forces saidenlargement back through said aperture to immediately disengage andunlock said releaseable fastener.
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled) 18.(canceled)
 19. The fastener as defined in claim 14, in which saidenlargement has the properties of a permanent magnet.
 20. A releasablefastener having an element forcibly insertable into and forciblyremovable from a receptacle to respectively engage and disengage saidfastener; a narrow substantially rigid shaft having opposed proximal anddistal ends; said element being formed by an enlargement at said distalend of said narrow shaft that is inserted and passed through anexpansion of said aperture of said receptacle to engage said fastener;said shaft being obtusely angled adjacent to said enlargement to secureengagement with said aperture of said receptacle; the respectiveproximal ends of said shaft and said receptacle being adapted to beflexibly attached to an article that encircles a body; the improvementcomprising; said distal enlargement being accessible to pressure fromthe side nearest the body, said pressure, as from a single finger,acting to disengage an engaged fastener when the fastener receptacle isrestrained by said flexible attachment, and so that pressure beingapplied to the fastener, in a direction away from said body, makes theangle between said shaft and the plane of said receptacle become moreacute with a part of the receptacle serving as a fulcrum at the point ofmutual contact between shaft and said receptacle and permitting theshaft to create a leveraged force that assists in immediatedisengagement of said fastener.